Strategy in TECH...
More patent decisions are being handed down as several long-running patent lawsuits between Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) and Apple Incorporated (Nasdaq: AAPL) wrap up. Last week, a jury in the matter of Apple Inc. (Plaintiff) v. Masimo Corporation and Sound United LLC (Defendants) rendered a verdict on a case where Apple accused Masimo of infringing on six of its Apple Watch patents.
Technically, Apple got a win…but realistically, it was a huge victory for Masimo.
As I reported last week, I attended the October 15, 2024, Grand Opening of the latest Crestron Experience Center (CEC), located in the prestigious New York Design Center in Manhattan. This CEC is remarkable in its own right, but as I reflected further on the Grand Opening I realized that the event itself was noteworthy. Not only did a top Crestron executive sit down with me to offer some interesting perspectives on the new CEC and business in general, but what I observed at that event itself was impressive as well.
So I have decided to augment my previous report with additional observations…and more photos.
While Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) claims to have most of its app problems behind it, multiple reports are emerging that suggest it may have an even bigger problem – the introduction of its Ace premium headphone has flopped. If these reports are true, then Sonos may indeed be staring into the jaws of the one monster that can truly terrify it – growing consumer resistance to its new products.
Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) announced that it has expanded the company’s Board of Directors with two new appointees. The medical products manufacturer, which also owns the Sound United audio brands, will now have a total of eight directors on its board.
This week, Moody’s Ratings, part of Moody’s Investors Services, announced that it was cutting Guitar Center’s credit rating to Caa3, down from Caa2. Guitar Center came on Strata-gee’s radar screen back in 2017 when it acquired AudioVisual Design Group (AVDG), a multi-regional integration group that to me seemed an odd fit with the mission of a struggling mass market musical instrument dealer. In 2020, Guitar Center filed for bankruptcy but has since exited on court approval of a new operating plan.
Nationwide Marketing Group, owner of a stable of high-performance dealer buying groups like Oasys, Ellipsys, and Azione Unlimited, announced this week that it has appointed Patrick McCarthy as the new Executive Director of Azione Unlimited. As you most likely know, McCarthy has been a long-time member of the group’s management since 2019 and has served as the Interim Director since June in the wake of Richard Glikes departing the group back in February.
Patrick’s new appointment is effective immediately, which is a good thing as the group is about to launch its Fall Conference, taking place this year in San Diego, CA from October 21st – 23rd.
Crestron Electronics, a worldwide industry leader in both the commercial and residential smart technology space, has opened a dramatic and dynamic new Crestron Experience Center (CEC) in the heart of Manhattan at 200 Lexington Avenue in the renowned New York Design Center. A grand opening ceremony was held with the media, customers, integrators and other special guests on Tuesday, October 15th, previewing the space which offers visitors an expansive roster of “hands-on” experiences and even includes a “workshop” for true first-person experiences where visitors can – among other things – discover new possibilities they didn’t know existed.
Voxx International Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) announced the financial results for its second quarter and first half of Fiscal 2025 on Thursday after the close of markets. The company, which is in the middle of a major transformation of its business, hailed the results in which it has dramatically cut the level of its total and net debt, and finished with a small net income after several quarters of net losses.
But these positive results were generated at the expense of net sales which continue to decline.
AVPro Global continues its rapid expansion with two major announcements this week, one in its MXnet Systems Group and another in Commercial Sales. Yet another sign of the company’s continued growth, AVPro Global continues to build out its infrastructure to better take advantage of market opportunities the company has identified.
The company has appointed Andy Herron and Deby Jimenez to its MXnet Systems Group and Jerrie Anderson to oversee the company’s commercial business development.
Once again, the industry gathered to celebrate the world of custom integration last month at the CEDIA Expo 2024 in Denver, Colorado. An annual event that is part business conference, part education/training confab, and part social get-together & party, many in the industry look forward to this one-time seminal event in anticipation of finding the seeds of future business growth in the innovation shown there.
This week, Emerald Expositions released the registration numbers for CEDIA Expo & Commercial Integrator Expo 2024 (CIX), but did not disclose the verified attendance number. At first, I thought this was an oversight…
